Margaret Rome's Blog

Here's your chance to pick up some great information from four of the best in the business...and the price is RIGHT! From your own phone or computer, spend 90 minutes to learn all about Alternative Business Models in Real Estate in a seminar hosted by Jennifer Allan.

"Alternative Business Models in Real Estate, Part I" with Jennifer Allan, Mollie Wasserman, Margaret Rome & Nishika Jones

DATE: THIS Saturday, August 1

TIME: 11:30 am (Eastern). 10:30 am (Central), 9:30 am (Mountain), 8:30 am (Pacific)

11:30 am (E), 10:30 am (C) 9:30 am (M), 8:30 am (P)

Duration: 90 minutes

Location: Your phone or computer

Cost: Zero. Zip. Nada. Goose Egg. Nothing. In other words...Free!

As a part of her "Summer Soul Series,"  Jennifer Allan will lead a panel discussion on Alternative Business Models (ABM) with Mollie Wasserman, Nishika Jones, Jennifer, and me.

We will be discussing four different approaches to running a real estate business; approaches that most would consider to be non-traditional, perhaps even controversial. We've all promised not to criticize each other's models, which might be harder than we think, especially if we're pretty enamored with our own model. We'll also ask this of our audience - this will be an ABM-friendly zone!

• Mollie Wasserman, the Founder of the Accredited Consultant in Real Estate® (ACRE®) designation will discuss real estate consulting.
  
• Nishika will discuss how she runs a "referral-out-only" brokerage.
  
• Jennifer will tell how she runs a profitable discount brokerage, and
  
• I will share with you how I don't offer a discount and yet have a waiting list of clients!

Care to join us? We'd love to have you! Again, the show is on August 1 at 8:30 am (pacific) / 11:30 am (eastern). To register, just go here: http://www.sellwithsoul.com/sos-abm.html

Hope to "see" you on Saturday!

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

A Romantic Dinner at Tio Pepe in Baltimore,Maryland

Yes, we went to Tío's tonight. No special occasion unless you count our 15,030-day anniversary as an occasion. Our very favorite restaurant is still almost unchanged even after forty plus years.

We went to Tío Pepe in downtown Baltimore when we were first married over 15,000 days ago. And after all this time, when we decide to go out for a romantic dinner, like tonight, we still are greeted like old (well we are) friends.

Francisco Lobo, the Maitre D', who we have always called Paco, treats us like royalty, telling us about the special dishes including some that are not on the menu. The chef and owner, Emiliano Sanz, studied cooking as a young man in Segovia, Spain. He apprenticed at some of the finest restaurants in Madrid before coming to Baltimore in 1971.

His unique style of combining classic techniques with regional Spanish cuisine has made Tío Pepe a Baltimore favorite. It has remained among "Baltimore's Best" for 12 consecutive years in Baltimore Magazine.

There is a wonderful selection of dishes to choose from. Our favorites include appetizers of shrimp in garlic sauce, salad Tío Pepe, crab meat in clam shells, black bean soup, gazpacho, and their famous potato puffs. Main dishes range from roast suckling pig, to the best soft shell crabs in the  world, and a fabulous filet with béarnaise (Lee's favorite) along with a wonderful selection of fish including Dover sole. 

Everyone always says they are too full, but somehow they manage to make room for something from the dessert tray like the luscious pine roll cake or chocolate roll cake along with a cup of delicious coffee or cappuccino.

Tío Pepe is one more good reason for a visit – don't miss this superb restaurant. We might just see you there.

When will you plan to have a A Romantic Dinner at Tio Pepe in Baltimore, Maryland?

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

It was a perfect weekend getaway, just what I needed in the middle of an incredibly busy time. Last weekend I traveled with my good friend Anne Hruby to Detroit for the Summer Forum with The Floyd Wickman Team. What fun meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. (Be sure to read Dean Moss' blog about it, too.)

Dean Moss and Floyd Wickman with lucky me in the middle

I was fortunate to take my first Floyd Wickman course in 1991 – back then they called it "SweatHogs." Since then I've been a Floyd fan, and try to connect with him when I can. So what is a "Forum for Master Salespeople?" It is a gathering (twice a year, summer and winter) to publicly help everyone hit their goals. It was an active participation, open discussion, with asking and answering some special questions - and with a great deal of enthusiasm. As you see in the photos, everyone was intensely involved in our round table discussions. So much  wisdom shared by so many successful Realtors. There were topics for discussion like "Best Money Making Ideas," and the ideas flowed!

Social Media was also one of the topics, and I was asked by Mike Pallin of the Floyd Wickman Team to speak about none other than  ActiveRain. There was plenty of interest as I shared some of the ways AR has been a big part of my real estate business in the past three years. There were lots of questions, and I asked for business cards from those who wanted to try AR so I could send them an invitation. Little did I know there would be so many interested! The first night back I sent out a bunch of AR invitations, late as it was.

We had a terrific panel discussion about REO and Short Sales led by Mary Johnson. With so many agents around the country experiencing lower income and depressed markets, this was the absolute best time to get back to basics.

Of course it wasn't all work. There was also a lot of fun stuff, too, with karaoke on Friday night, and presentation of an award to Floyd by The Rat Pack. Saturday was dinner at Buce Di Beppi with mounds of delicious food, drink, laughter, and above all friendship.

I wonder how many ActiveRainers have taken a session with Floyd? Can we find out? We have Floyd Wickman and the "You Get By Giving" philosophy in common. Anyone reading this who has been a part of a Floyd Wickman course, or knows someone who has, can we connect again? 

Do you recognize any ActiveRainers in the photos above?

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

Well not exactly my kitchen, but I think I have eaten more meals in the Suburban House than in my own house or we did until last night. And we almost never get through a meal without seeing a friend or client. It’s just our favorite neighborhood deli and restaurant! 

They make the best omelets (seems like about a dozen eggs), the best chopped salads, and have the best waitress, Mitzu, who knows that when I order a “chop chop” that’s not what it is called on the menu. It is an oriental chicken salad that is finely chopped. They make wonderful matzoh ball soup and sky-high corned beef sandwiches and one of the best steak subs around. If you still have room, their desserts are gorgeous.

But look at what happened at 5:00 pm yesterday: Fire in storage building damages popular Pikesville restaurant. From the news reports, no one was hurt, thank goodness, and about 30 customers and employees got out safely.

I couldn't stay away when I heard. I had to see for myself. It was dark but you could still see the damage was massive. The booths were just piles of charred debris, there was water damage, and broken glass everywhere, and the cleaning crew was there boarding up this Pikesville icon known as The Suburban House.

We wish everyone well and hope that they are able to open again soon.

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

I was running late for class yesterday morning when I noticed this lone but beautiful flower growing against all odds. It was right in the middle of a heavily traveled sidewalk. I noticed it but could not spare the time – I did not want to be tardy.

Leaving the building after 4:00 p.m, to my delight this bit of color was still quite alive. I was glad, and decided to stop and photograph it.

Something this simple can make you stop and think – about challenges and obstacles, and how we deal with them. A seed sprouting, taking root, and producing a bright pink flower is not a surprise until you see it away from a garden. We might even be used to seeing weeds growing in a sidewalk crack, but a flower? And on a busy sidewalk? It overcame the odds of having enough soil and water, it overcame the odds of being crushed by one of the many feet that walk by every day. No one ever told that flower it couldn't live there…so it does.

I learned a long time ago that the saying is very true: The person who says, "It can't be done" needs to get out of the way of the person who is already doing it!

What impossible thing are you doing today?

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400

3740 Foxford Stream Road

Ridgeleys Choice

Nottingham, Md.  21236

3 Bedrooms

3 Full Baths

1 Powder Room

$229,944

Enter into the ceramic foyer of your beautiful 3 Bedroom brick townhouse with 3 Full Baths plus a first floor powder room This three level  Townhouse located in Baltimore County, Ridgelys Choice Community and is conveniently located within minutes of the Baltimore Beltway (Exit 31) Joppa Rd, Belair Rd, Rt 1 and White Marsh Mall.

 There are large bright windows in the eat in kitchen which has ceramic tile floors, pantry, stove, microwave, dishwasher, side by side refrigerator and a pass through to the dining area. Notice that the sunken living room has a corner wood burning fireplace and access to the deck.

The master bath has a full tub and shower with a ledge plus a a wall of closets. The other two bedrooms upstairs share another bath.

The finished lower level family room has built in shelving, full bath, wall to wall carpet, ceiling fan and access to the brick patio and fenced level yard. 

This is an easy home to live and entertain... boasting two sets of Sliders, one leads to the brick patio and fenced yard from the lower level family room and the other from the large Deck off sunken living room with a corner wood-burning fireplace.

Enjoy the wooded views backing to trees. Ceramic floors in foyer and bright eat in front kitchen with pass thru to DR. This home is ready to move right in with the Brand new wall to wall carpeting, fresh paint and new appliances.

Please call 410-530-2400 to see this Baltimore County Townhouse

3740 Foxford Stream Rd Brick Townhome with bay window Dining Room looking into sunken living room Bright Bay Window in eat in kitchen Sliders to deck facing wooded views Bathroom sink Wood burning Fireplace in Living Room Covered Brick Patio- Fenced level backyard Wooded View from your deck Ceiling fan in Family Room Fenced Rear Yard View from inside your townhouse Family Room with Built in shelving

Who says that condominiums in Baltimore, Maryland have to be for the elderly or more mature, retired buyers? Sure, many are moving out of a big house and looking forward to not having to worry about maintenance and enjoying the luxury of a full service building. Who doesn't like a doorman to help with your packages, a 24-hour receptionist to greet you, to take your mail, your messages, your dry cleaning? It's kind of like hotel living.

Well it hit me when I was showing my Park Towers West to a young mother with a beautiful six-month-old baby boy. Oh, it was hard for me to stay focused on showing the condo when there was this perfect young baby who I could make smile and coo. You know me, the former Pediatric nurse.

Anyway, the prospective buyer asked if there were any young people living in the building. My first thought (not expressed) well of course not! Aren’t condos just for ole folks? But I would not give that kind of answer instead we stopped at the receptionist desk and asked. To my surprise, we learned there is a 3-year-old and a 10-year-old living in the building, not in the same family. 

Young people in a condo, there’s a novel idea in Baltimore. Yeah, yeah, I know in New York and other big cities there are lots and lots of kids who grow up in a high-rise buildings - there is no choice. It's not common here in Baltimore, though. But it got me thinking. With so many condominiums on the market with fantastically low prices, here is an opportunity for singles, young married couples, roommates, and college students to get into the housing market.

 I also noticed that the ramps were perfect for strollers, and bikes not just wheelchairs and walkers.

I have one that is below $57,000 and is fully furnished (Clarks Lane). I have three under contract under $80,000 (Strathmore) including  that lovely lady's  the perfect gift,  another is listed under $95,000 fully furnished (Tarragon in Reisterstown), another under $105,000 (Park Towers East), as well as a couple of Co-ops at 11 Slade. (Not sure what the difference is between a condo and a co-op? Just ask.)

But what about the high condo fees of $600, $700 a month or even more? Because those fees in many cases include the utilities, it is still more affordable than almost any single family home, and most of us believe renting is a waste! If this trend catches on, the prices will go back up and in a few years the buyers will have equity for their next home.

I see this as a new way to market all of my special properties. And, as these new buyers decide to move up, they might want to go to Annen Woods, or Rockland Hills Drive, or my latest listing at 8008 Derby Lane, an all brick Coach House, or down to Baltimore’s harbor area and Fells Point's Henderson Wharf or my Lancaster Penthouse.

So I am proposing to start a new trend. Let’s market to the younger generation, to students and first time buyers. This is a good investment for parents of law, medical and college students.  Let’s think outside the box.

 Get into the market for under $100,000 and figure in your condo payments. Then live like you are on vacation, in a hotel, with all the amenities of a full service building. You can live in a condominium in Baltimore. Are you ready to set a new trend?

www.HomeRome.com

410-530-2400